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    Canon Developing New RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM Dual Lens for EOS R7 Camera for Recording Spatial Video For Apple Vision Pro

    By Updated:44 Comments Canon Lens News 2 Mins Read

    Canon has teamed up with Apple. I’m unsure how I feel about this. But it will be interesting to see how this develops in the future.

    Canon’s Press Release

    MELVILLE, N.Y., June 10, 2024 — Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc. is developing the RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens for its popular EOS R7 camera1, enabling users to capture life’s most precious moments in spatial video, and then relive those memories on Apple Vision Pro. The new STM DUAL lens is the latest addition to Canon’s EOS VR System lineup, and will be available later this fall2. Canon is the first3 camera manufacturer to introduce a dedicated, interchangeable lens that enables pro users to capture stunning spatial video to experience on Apple Vision Pro.

    With the RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens, videographers can record gorgeous spatial video even in the most challenging lighting conditions. After capturing video with the interchangeable lens, the EOS VR Utility app transforms the video captured from the camera to spatial video, which viewers can enjoy on Apple Vision Pro.

    The RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens features a field angle that is similar to a person’s field of view, which enables videographers to naturally capture memorable moments. The lens is also equipped with a high-speed autofocus mechanism, so users of all levels can record amazing spatial video.

    Canon launched the EOS VR System for capturing immersive and VR video in 2021, and since then has met the needs for video production in diverse fields including entertainment, tourism, and education. The EOS VR System features dual lenses and utilizes the left and right lenses to produce beautiful content with incredible depth and dimension. To streamline the video production workflow, the light entering from the respective lenses is recorded on a single CMOS sensor, which eliminates the need for camera position adjustments or synchronization prior to shooting, or the need for piecing together footage after filming.

    The RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens is the latest example of how Canon is continuing to meet the creative needs of pro users who strive to produce stunning immersive video as they explore new ways of storytelling.

    1. As of the release date of the RF-S7.8mm STM DUAL lens, the only compatible camera is the EOS R7 (released in June 2022). Requires a firmware update scheduled for release at the same time as the lens. ↩︎
    2. Between September 21, 2024, and December 20, 2024. ↩︎
    3.  As of June 10, 2024. ↩︎

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    44 comments

    3. if I recall the patent application from the top of my head, this one isn\'t a full 180 degrees
      Could it be rectilinear (or able to be corrected in camera to rectilinear)? Also do you have a link to the patent?
    4. if I recall the patent application from the top of my head, this one isn\'t a full 180 degrees
      Both of the 'VR' lenses announced yesterday do less than 180 degrees, the dual fisheye one does 144 degrees, to, as Canon claims, better match your eyes and not show your shoes or tripod legs.
    5. Both of the 'VR' lenses announced yesterday do less than 180 degrees, the dual fisheye one does 144 degrees, to, as Canon claims, better match your eyes and not show your shoes or tripod legs.
      The name of this lens doesn’t include the word “fisheye” unlike the other two “DUAL” lenses so I am wondering if it is intended for rectilinear images.
    6. Sorry - i had to look it up, i was thinking of another aps-c variant.

      as far as 7.8mm as far as I can tell it would be around 80 degree AoV

      so in theory you may get distortion, but it wouldn't be a full effect that you get with a fisheye.

      these two announcements at the same time for the same thing for slightly different reasons is hurting my lizard brain today
    9. Thanks Richard. This is interesting and i would like to know, what the difference is to the dual Fisheye lenses.
      If the Panasonic Lumix H-FT012 12.5mm F12 3D Lens is anything to go by, you will get two rectiliniear images (with a lot of vignetting) side by side, and the camera might save it as an MPO file for direct viewing on a compatible device.

      HTC, back in the early Android days, made the EVO 3D with a similar lens design and a display that could actually show these stereoscopic photos and videos without the need for any special glasses.
    10. The autofocus is interesting.
      RED cameras were a better, albeit pricier, alternatives for the manual focus lens.
      I am guessing R7 support is only for autofocus unless Canon is going to add external 7K RAW video.
      It is only a development announcement.
      Maybe we will get more info and more cameras before then.
    15. Not sure how you feel? I think canon partnering with apple is a huge bonus and advantage. They own pro-res. They are the largest tech company in the world. They are making the most exciting advances in computational photography and video. Looks like black magic also see the advantage too.
    16. Not sure how you feel? I think canon partnering with apple is a huge bonus and advantage. They own pro-res. They are the largest tech company in the world. They are making the most exciting advances in computational photography and video. Looks like black magic also see the advantage too.

      Apple is a lost company at the moment and in dire need of a new CEO. They released a $3500 product that no one is buying because no one wants to wear a giant thing on their face, never mind a battery on your belt. This VR nonsense in the consumer space has been a 30 year promise, and it's still extremely niche for industrial, medical and military applications.

      All of the YouTuber grifters returned them after their "reviews". It is by far the most returned product percentage wise in Apple's history.

      Huawei, Xiaomi and Qualcomm have passed them in hardware, which wasn't hard because Apple doesn't actually make anything. Software? Everyone has passed them.

      Apple's greatest strengths are customer retention (the walled garden), marketing and infographics.
    17. Thanks Richard. This is interesting and i would like to know, what the difference is to the dual Fisheye lenses.

      Also, maybe I'm being daft, but is there anything specific to the R7 with this new lens?
      The Apple version of spatial video is actually a little more intriguing to me than other VR approaches, but I have no intention of getting an R7...

      Could I not just use an R5 in cropped mode to get the same effects?
    18. Apple is a lost company at the moment and in dire need of a new CEO. They released a $3500 product that no one is buying because no one wants to wear a giant thing on their face, never mind a battery on your belt. This VR nonsense in the consumer space has been a 30 year promise, and it's still extremely niche for industrial, medical and military applications.

      All of the YouTuber grifters returned them after their "reviews". It is by far the most returned product percentage wise in Apple's history.

      Huawei, Xiaomi and Qualcomm have passed them in hardware, which wasn't hard because Apple doesn't actually make anything. Software? Everyone has passed them.

      Apple's greatest strengths are customer retention (the walled garden), marketing and infographics.

      1. Apple’s been “lost” since SJ died. TC is just smart enough to have known how to capitalize on/ milk SJ products for a very long time and not totally screw up Apple’s design or ease of use appeal.

      2. Agree w/ VR as a consumer product. Seems like its failure/niche here should be obvious to all but it’s not. I think it does have value in commercial use as a virtual trainer for tasks that are expensive, risky, or impractical to do so in real life.

      3. That Apple is a walled garden so is every other platform. Very little interoperability between them. Even Canon is a walled garden. But Apple products are more than marketing. They are actuall good which is why they are popular and so many choose to be in its garden.

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